Tampa Sex Crime Defense Attorney

A sex crime is a criminal offense that is sexual in nature or that involves
an illegal sex act. While there is a vast array of horrible crimes a person
can commit, none seem to carry as negative a stigma as a sexual offense.
When a person is charged with a sexual offense, they automatically get
labeled as a “sex offender” or “deviant.” This
is especially true in cases where the alleged victim is a minor (a person
below the legal age of 18).

Penalties for Sexual Offenses

A sex crime conviction in Florida will result in harsh penalties. These penalties may range from a short sentence in county jail to a lifetime
in prison. A lawyer will be able to offer valuable advice on what to expect
and what to do at this point to avoid these penalties. In the face of
prejudice and a predisposition to assume guilt from jury members, law
enforcement and the media, an aggressive lawyer can still effectively
defend his or her client's rights and help them avoid a conviction and
thus the penalties associated with this.

At Thomas & Paulk, we are committed to defending people charged with
a sex crime.
Contact us for the help you need!

Why Hire a Sex Crime Defense Lawyer?

Without an experienced lawyer, there is nothing standing between you and
the maximum penalties for your offense. This may mean
sex offender registration, years or even a lifetime in prison, fines and more. Your freedom, rights
and future are at stake so be sure you do everything you can to protect
these things by working with a criminal lawyer quickly.

Only a skilled lawyer will be able to give you honest, helpful counsel
regarding your charges. From the onset of these charges, they will be
able to advise you on what to and not do in order to help your case and
begin building a defense.

I'm glad I made them my first choice.

“When I was arrested for the first time in my life of 50 years, I
was simply helpless and frightened. I had to find a lawyer that I could
trust would get me out of this situation. Jeff Paulk was very professional,
serious and didn't mind answering all my questions and made me feel like,
with him by my side, I can rest assured that I will be ok. I recommend
this law firm to anyone who wants their problems resolved. I'm glad I
made them my first choice.”

- Google Reviewer

Even initial police questioning without a defense attorney present could
greatly affect the outcome of your case. It is best to take as many preventative
measures as possible by working with a lawyer as soon as possible. Our
firm will provide a number of valuable services to a person who has been
charged with a sex crime in Florida.

This includes, but is not limited to, the following:

Investigating the charges brought against the client

Conducting an independent analysis of evidence

Working with forensic, DNA and psychological experts

Locating and interviewing witnesses to corroborate the client's side of the story

Proving a sex crime accusation is false - by showing the alleged victim
had motive

Developing a strong plan of action for the client's defense

Keeping the client informed at every step of the case

Negotiating with the prosecuting attorney to receive lessened charges

Litigating the case in criminal court in front of a jury

Appealing a sex crime conviction

People who are charged with sex crimes can expect to have their lives turned
upside down as they will be subjected to intrusive investigations and
questioning by law enforcement. For this reason, it is always a wise idea
for a person to obtain counsel from a knowledgeable attorney when charged
with a sex crime.

Florida Penalties

Following are several sex crimes, and their penalties, as under Florida
law. These are the maximum penalties for these offenses. An attorney may
be able to, when involved in a case early enough, represent their client
and prove that the charges are based off false accusations or that there
is not enough evidence to hold the client responsible for the crime. Whatever
the strategy, the ultimate goal of the Tampa criminal attorneys from our
law firm is to ensure our clients do not receive maximum penalties for
their charge.

Depending on the Age of the Victim: Life in Prison / 15 Years in Prison

Child Pornography

Possession: 5 Years in State Prison, per Piece of Material

Production / Distribution: 15 Years in State Prison

Prostitution / Solicitation

First Offense: Up to 60 Days in Jail

Second Offense: Up to 1 Year in Jail

Third Offense: Up to 5 Years in State Prison

Lewd Conduct / Indecent Exposure

Depending on the Age of the Victim: 5 or 15 Years in State Prison

Solicitation of Prostitution

All Charges Dropped

Defendant was arrested for soliciting an undercover police officer for
sex. After reviewing the evidence in the case, we determined that the
law enforcement officer had entrapped our client. We filed a motion to
dismiss charges. The court granted our motion and all charges were dismissed.

Our Videos

4 Benefits of Hiring a Criminal Attorney

You may know nothing about the criminal system and may be confused on what
to do next. You'll need an attorney who will guide you through the entire
process to make things a little easier for you.

Relationships

Our attorneys have been working in the courts for a long time and have
developed positive relationships with all the people you may face during
your case. This can help improve the position in your case, which can
help your outcome.

Knowledge

You won't be able to look into all the possibilities alone. Your criminal
attorney is well-versed in criminal law and will be able to provide you
with a strong strategy and turn the odds in your favor.

Building a Case

Unlike a prosecutor, a criminal defense attorney will spend the time to
build a strong case to help by dismissing your case or reducing the penalties.

The information on this website is for general information purposes only.
Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual
case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt
or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.